Vertigo is often caused by an issue in the inner ear. This leads some people to worry that using hearing aids could be a potential cause. However, it’s important to know that hearing aids do not cause any known health issues, including vertigo.
What Is Vertigo?
Though vertigo and dizziness are often used interchangeably, they aren’t quite the same. Vertigo is a specific sensation where you feel as though either you or your environment is moving, even though no movement is occurring.
Symptoms of Vertigo
In addition to feeling unbalanced, people with vertigo can experience the following:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Tinnitus
- Double vision or difficulty focusing your eyes
- A feeling of fullness in the ear
- Hearing loss
Vertigo attacks are usually intense but short-lived, lasting a few seconds to minutes. However, some people can experience sensations that last days and can be debilitating.
Causes of Vertigo
Vertigo can be triggered by multiple other health conditions, with older adults being more susceptible. Problems or damage to the inner ear are often the cause of vertigo and can include:
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
- Labyrinthitis (inner ear infection)
- Inflammation of the vestibular nerve
- Migraines
- Ménière’s disease
Hearing Aids Can Help With Balance
Not only do hearing aids not cause vertigo, but they can also help with balance. A study published in 2017 looked into the effect of hearing aids on postural stability in elderly adults who have hearing loss and found that using hearing aids actually improved static balance function.
Hearing aids can help you feel more oriented to your surroundings and, therefore, less likely to trip or fall when walking through your neighborhood or hiking at Roswell Riverwalk Trail. This is especially important for older people with hearing loss, as they are more likely to sustain serious injuries from a fall.
How Hearing Aids Can Benefit You
Hearing aids don’t just help with your hearing and balance, but they can help you in other ways you probably don’t even know about.
People who treat their hearing loss with hearing aids experience lower levels of anxiety and depression, as well as a decreased risk of cognitive decline and dementia when compared to those who leave their hearing loss untreated.
If you’ve noticed a change in your hearing, make sure to call the experts at Advanced Hearing and schedule an appointment today.